Secretly Married (English)

Chapter 32

Kent looked at Phoebe stare into the void in shock.

"You're leaving? You're leaving me?" she asked without looking at him.

"Hey, calm down," he said, reaching out to her. "It's not what you think," he added.

"But it's our anniversary—"

"Phoebe, hey! Let me finish."

"What else is there to say?"

"Will you just stop overreacting?"

"Do you expect me to take this calmly? You're telling me you're leaving me, Kent."

"I'm not leaving you. I'm just leaving. For work. For three weeks," Kent said.

Phoebe frowned. "What the hell, Kent?" She began hitting him with her handbag again. "Next time, complete your sentences!"

"Stop, hey!"

Phoebe finally stopped. Then she was quiet for a while. "Why didn't you tell me this before?" she asked. "Because . . . well, it wasn't a done deal when we signed on to do the movie. They were still weighing it out. I just learned about it. And I felt like I couldn't delay the news any longer."

"And you'll be with that bitch?"

"Phoebe, your language."

Phoebe's lips quivered, and soon, she was crying.

"Kent, promise me it will just be work, okay? No extra- curricular activities. Where are you going, anyway?"

"Uh, Paris."

"Paris! Kent, take me with you!"

"Are you out of your mind?"

"But it's so unfair! You're going to the most romantic city in the world with the girl I hate the most! I'll just skip school."

"Don't be stupid. You can't miss school for this."

"Well, what about the two ofyou? You're missing school for that."

"It's different. We're working."

Phoebe frowned. "Just promise me you won't socialize with her there."

"Promise."

"And promise me you'll call—every day. I don't care about the time difference."

"Okay, baby, promise."

"I'm serious!"

"Hey, come on. Don't cry." Kent tried to reach out and wipe away her tears, but she moved away from him and wiped them off herself.

"Just—let's go home, okay? I can't believe this is happening."

During the drive home, Phoebe would not look at Kent or talk. When they arrived home, Phoebe got off the car without waiting for Kent and went upstairs without a word. Kent watched her as she walked away from him and then slumped on the sofa. Manang Lourdes came into the living room.

"Want some water, Kent? How was your day?" "Hmm. Manang. I really don't understand women," he said.

The old lady looked confused. "You're fighting again?"

"I don't know. We're not not fighting, but she won't talk to me." "Why?"

Kent explained what they'd talked about in the car, about his leaving for Paris for work.

"Well, you can't blame her for feeling that way."

"But can't she understand? I'm just doing my job! But I do understand why she feels that way. I just wish I can do something to make her feel better about the situation."